Bangkok Opposes Town Near New Airport

[george]

BMA opposes town near new airport

BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has opposed a government plan to develop the areas surrounding Suvarnabhumi Airport into a new town on grounds that it would exacerbate the capital’s seasonal floods.

“The new town, if developed, would block run-off water from the North causing greater inundation on the outskirts of the city,” Deputy Bangkok Governor Samart Ratchapholsitte said yesterday.

Samart said the BMA also disagreed with a proposal that 35 square kilometres of land straddling Lat Krabang and Kan Na Yow districts be placed under central government jurisdiction.

Although the government has argued that it would designate the area as a special economic zone with access to the new airport, the city administration should retain jurisdiction and cooperate in the area’s development, he said.

With regard to the airport construction, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said the opening of the airport might be delayed, although the work was set for completion by September.

“I expect the majority of the construction to be completed by the September deadline but before the airport can open it needs certification by the International Civil Aviation Organisation,” he said.

Thaksin said the licensing for the airport to begin operations would depend on how quickly contractors could install all the necessary service equipment.

--The nation 2005-06-29